QUESTION Is there a world snowball fighting

championship?

EvEry February in Japan, 100 teams compete to win the Showa- Shinzan International yukigassen — this word means snow battles and has become the de facto world championships.

Two teams of seven players are pitted against each other on a rectangular snowcovered field. Each team has 90 snowballs for the three-minute match.

you win by tagging (hitting with a snowball) all the members of the other team or by capturing the rival flag. Teams need to win two out of three matches to advance in the tournament.

The rock-hard snowballs are produced by a machine with a diameter of 3 in. Protective gear — a helmet and snowsuit — are essential.

The tournament began in 1989 and was held every year until the pandemic. It will return this year on February 25-26.

Snowball tournaments are also held in other countries, including Australia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Canada, the U.S., Armenia and russia.

John Miller, Oxford.